Soccer Skills and Techniques Training Mat Set

ABSTRACT

A training device for teaching and practicing simple and advanced soccer skills and techniques. The device is a set of mats with printed indicators on the upper side of each mat, the printed indicators are specifically of footstep indicators printed in solid line, footstep indicators printed in dashed line, circle indicating where the soccer ball is placed, solid and dashed lines with arrows, step numbers, instructional text. Each training mat shows and teaches different soccer technique. The soccer student steps on top of the training mat and follows the instructions printed on the mat surface by placing their feet on top of the footstep prints and moving them in exact position and sequence shown on the mat.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a mat set—Soccer Skills and Techniques Training Mat Set designed to teach and train soccer students basic and advanced soccer skills, techniques, turns, fakes and moves. The Soccer Skills and Techniques Training Mat Set is specifically designed to guide the students step by step when learning or practicing a specific technique.

The indicators on the upper side of the training mat are specifically of footstep indicators printed in solid line, footstep indicators printed in dashed line, circle indicating where the soccer ball is placed, solid and dashed lines with arrows, step numbers, instructional text. The indicators on the upper side of the mat can be in different color for ease of use, for example—left footsteps colored in blue, right footsteps colored in red, circle colored in yellow, numbers, lines and arrows colored in white, but all prints can be in one color as well

The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set teaches exact positioning of the left and right foot in relation to each other and the soccer ball and exact direction and sequence of each step or movement for each specific soccer skill, technique, turn, fake or move.

The mat set with prints of soccer student feet and soccer ball and the method of placing player's feet on specifically shown by the footprints places on top of the mat in specific sequence of the steps and movements to perform a specific soccer technique, skill, turn, fake or move is believed entirely new.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This relates to soccer training, specifically to teaching soccer skills, techniques, turns, fakes, tricks and training exercises using a set of mats with printed surface that guide the soccer student step by step by indicating the exact position, direction and sequence of steps and movements of the soccer student's feet and soccer ball.

The applicant here is a former professional soccer player and a current soccer coach that coaches youth soccer students of all ages. Personal experience in coaching shows that teaching proper soccer techniques is a lengthy process given the complexity and nuances of some of the techniques and considering that the traditional way of teaching by showing the technique to the students in a group setting can be challenging.

Young soccer players usually learn soccer techniques by observing the coach and trying to duplicate movement and control of the ball shown to them. Learning the techniques is a challenging process for the young soccer students because of the complexity of the technique which may involve multiple steps and moves in a specific sequence. The way of traditional presentation of the techniques to the students is another challenging task as the soccer coach is usually facing the students or facing the side which puts the movement in the reverse direction for students. Speed of learning is different with most students and in a group practice setting it proves to be another challenge as some of the students are falling behind and for some the pace is too slow.

Also, understanding the movement is not enough by itself to perform a technique as in soccer the exact positioning of the feet in relation to each other and the soccer ball is very important in order to perform the correct technique.

From experience the applicant had found out that soccer students learn much easier when the technique is broken down and shown to them step by step with exact positioning of the feet in relation to one another and the soccer ball and the students perform and follow the steps at the same time.

The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set does exactly that, it shows the students where and in what position each foot should be placed and the sequence and direction of each move or step as well as the part of the foot used to control the soccer ball. Each mat in the Soccer Skills and Techniques Training Mat Set represents a different technique and guides the player step by step to perform the particular skill.

The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set also, gives each soccer student the opportunity to learn the techniques at their own pace, as students learning speed is different and depends on their age, learning ability and motor skills development.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a teaching device and provides a means of learning and perfecting soccer techniques, turns, fakes and moves by soccer students of all ages by guiding them step by step.

It allows the soccer student to learn and perfect the soccer techniques on their own time and pace.

It allows the soccer students to learn and perfect soccer techniques using both left and right foot to control the ball which is very important in soccer.

The device is a set of mats—Soccer Skills and Techniques Training Mat Set with printed elements on the upper side of the mat that guide the soccer student step by step when learning the technique shown on the particular mat.

A mat for teaching and practicing simple and advanced soccer skills, techniques, turns, fakes and moves to soccer students of all ages.

The Upper side of the Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set has indicators to guide the soccer student step by step when learning or practicing a specific soccer technique indicated on the particular training mat.

The indicators on the upper side of the training mat are specifically of footstep indicators printed in solid line, footstep indicators printed in dashed line, circle indicating where the soccer ball is placed, solid and dashed lines with arrows, step numbers, instructional text.

A footstep indicator printed in solid line shows exactly where the soccer student places their corresponding foot on the surface on the mat. A footstep indicator printed in dashed line shows exactly where the soccer students' foot is in the air above the training mat.

The soccer students steps on top of the training mat and follows the instructions printed on the mat surface by placing their feet on top of the footstep prints in exact position and sequence shown on the mat and controlling the soccer ball placed on top of the mat at the designated place with the part of the foot shown by footstep indicators printed in dashed line. Each training mat in the Soccer Skills and

Techniques Training Mat Set shows and teaches different soccer technique and also teaches each technique to be performed with controlling left and right foot.

OPERATION

In operation one uses the Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set by stepping on top of the mat and placing the student feet on top of the marked footsteps for left and right foot printed on top of the mat surface and following the direction and sequence of movements and steps indicated on the mat surface.

The student starts by placing both feet on top of the footprints at the starting position and a soccer ball on top of the printed circle representing the soccer ball, the student proceeds by following the indicator lines and arrows and placing their feet on top of the footprint indicated at the end of the arrow. Steps are performed in the sequence indicated by step numbers indicated next to each arrow. The user finishes the technique by controlling the soccer ball placed on top of the mat with the foot surface indicated on the mat by a footprint printed in a dashed line. The dashed line footprint indicates the student's foot is in the air on top of the mat when controlling the soccer ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top side view of the entire invention

FIG. 2 through FIG. 31 is a top prospective view of the invention showing the printed details of each mat that comprises the Soccer Skills and Techniques Training Mat Set.

FIG. 32 is a top side view of the invention with the soccer ball placed on the appropriate location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In this description like reference numbers will be used to identify like elements according to the different figures that illustrate the invention.

In FIG. 1 there is seen the entire invention 40, of this application. The invention consists of a mat 40 with printed images of left and right footsteps, circle, lines and arrows and step numbers.

Now we move to FIG. 2 where we see in details the printed patterns on the upper side of the training mat and more specifically a circle 50 representing the soccer ball and the location where the actual soccer ball is placed on top of the mat. A straight solid line and arrow 60 that represents and shows the path and direction of the soccer ball. Multiple dashed lines and arrows 70, 71, 72 and 73 that represent and show the exact movement and direction of the soccer student's feet. Markings “Step 1” 80, “Step 2”—81 and “STEP 3”˜82 that represent and show the sequence of steps and movements for the soccer student to follow in specific order. Left footstep indicators printed in solid line 90 and 91 that represents and shows the exact location and position of the left foot of the soccer student to be placed on the surface of the mat. Right footstep indicators printed in solid line 100 and 101 that represents and shows the exact location and position of the right foot of the soccer student to be placed on the surface of the mat. A left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110 that represents and shows the exact position of the soccer students' left foot in the air and not touching the surface of the mat and coming in contact with the soccer ball with specific part of the foot. In this specific FIG. 2 the represented soccer technique is “Step over-half turn” using left foot to control the ball.

Now moving to FIG. 3 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Step over-half turn” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 4 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Step over-full turn” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 5 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Step over-full turn” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 6 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Pull back turn” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 7 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Pull back turn” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 8 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Outside of foot cut back turn” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 9 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Outside of foot cut back turn” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 10 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Inside of foot cut back turn” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 11 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Inside of foot cut back turn” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 12 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Back heel turn” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 13 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Back heel turn” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 14 where we see the same components' and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Spin around turn” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 15 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Spin around turn” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 16 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Roll back turn” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 17 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Roll back turn” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 18 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Rabona turn” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 130.

Now moving to FIG. 19 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Rabona turn” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball indicated by shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 130.

Now moving to FIG. 20 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Step over fake” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 21 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Step over fake” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 22 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Single Scissor fake” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 23 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Single Scissor fake” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 24 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Double Scissor fake” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 25 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Double Scissor fake” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 26 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Simple fake” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 27 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Simple fake” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now moving to FIG. 28 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Double Simple fake” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 29 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Double Simple fake” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120

Now moving to FIG. 30 where we see the same component and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Behind the foot flick” using the left foot to control the soccer ball shown by left footstep indicator printed in dashed line 110.

Now moving to FIG. 31 where we see the same components and details described in FIG. 2 and this time positioned and sequenced in specific and exact way to represent the soccer technique “Behind the foot flick” this time using the right foot to control the soccer ball shown by right footstep indicator printed in dashed line 120.

Now we move to FIG. 32 where we see the entire invention this time with a soccer ball placed on top of it at the designated place. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set, comprising: Number of mats with each mat representing a different soccer skill or technique, with each mat having an upper side and bottom side, the upper side of each mat has printed indicators of left footstep indicators printed in solid line, right footstep indicators printed in solid line, right footstep indicators printed in dashed line, left footstep indicators printed in dashed line, a circle (indicates where the soccer ball is placed), solid line arrow, dashed line arrows, step numbers, written instructions; footstep indicators printed in solid line show where the soccer student will place their feet and step on top of the mat; a footstep indicator printed in dashed line show the position of the soccer student foot in the air above the training mat and represents the contact with the soccer ball; the circle print on the upper side of the mat indicates the position where the soccer ball is placed; the dashed lines and arrows indicate the exact path and direction of the soccer student feet on the way to the next footstep print; the solid line and arrow print indicate the path of the soccer ball after the soccer student has controlled it with the appropriate foot; the numbers indicate the sequence of each movement or step indicated by the arrows and footstep prints.
 2. The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set of claim 1, wherein on the upper side of each mat there is at least one printed indicator of right footstep printed in solid line.
 3. The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set of claim 1, wherein on the upper side of each mat there is at least one printed indicator of left footstep printed in solid line.
 4. The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set of claim 1, wherein on the upper side of each mat there is at least one printed indicator of right footstep printed in dashed line.
 5. The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set of claim 1, wherein on the upper side of each mat there is at least one printed indicator of left footstep printed in dashed line.
 6. The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set of claim 1, wherein on the upper side of each mat there is at least one printed indicator of a circle printed in solid line.
 7. The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set of claim 1, wherein on the upper side of each mat there is at least one printed indicator of dashed lines and arrows.
 8. The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set of claim 1, wherein on the upper side of each mat there is at least one printed indicator of solid lines and arrows.
 9. The Soccer Skills and Technique Training Mat Set of claim 1, wherein on the upper side of each mat there is at least one printed indicator of numbers indicating the sequence of each movement or step indicated by the arrows and footstep prints. 